East Texas Professional Credit Union (ETPCU) has been made aware of a recent text scam targeting members. In this version, recipients are alerted about an “unusual charge” on their account and are directed to a suspicious link for resolution.
Please note: These messages ARE NOT from ETPCU. We will NEVER send a text asking you to click a link to verify or resolve account activity. Legitimate fraud alerts will come from a 5- or 6-digit short code, not a standard phone number.
If you receive a text like this, DO NOT CLICK THE LINK or respond. If you have already done so and provided any personal information, please contact a Member Service Representative immediately at 903-323-1238.
We also encourage you to monitor your accounts closely using Online Banking or our free Mobile App and report any suspicious activity.
If you have any questions or concerns, contact us at 903-323-1238.
TEXT SCAM 4.2025
East Texas Professional Credit Union (ETPCU) was notified of a text scam. In this scam, the target receives a text informing them of a payment made from their account. There is a link to click if you did not authorize the payment.
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These texts ARE NOT from ETPCU. We will NEVER text you and ask you to click a link. A Fraud Alert will also not come from a phone number. It will typically come from a short 5 or 6-digit number.
If you receive a text of this nature, please DO NOT RESPOND. If you have already clicked the link and provided information, please contact a Member Service Representative at 903-323-1238 immediately. In addition, please watch your account closely via Online Banking or our free Mobile App for any unauthorized activity.
If you have any other questions or concerns regarding this matter, please contact us at 903-323-1238.
East Texas Professional Credit Union (ETPCU) was notified of a new fraudulent text scam targeting Apple iPhone users. In this scam, the criminals send a text message from “Apple Support” to the iPhone user. There is a link within the text message to contact Apple Support / Billing (see image below). When the iPhone user clicks on the link, spyware is launched and gives the criminals total control of the iPhone device. The criminals then access the mobile wallet on the phone (if the device has a card loaded for mobile payments) and proceed to make purchases until the funds in the account are depleted or the daily limit is reached.
The criminals then call the victim requesting additional funds. The criminals provide images of the iPhone users driver license and social security number. The criminals use this to imply that they have access to the victim’s other financial information as well in an attempt to extort additional money.
The criminals in this scam have a heavy foreign accent. We assume they are working out of a call center, but the location is unknown. If you receive this text, please DO NOT RESPOND and delete it immediately. If you have already clicked the link and are an ETPCU member, please contact a Member Service Representative at 903-323-1238 in order to have your account blocked immediately.
Should you have any other questions or concerns regarding this matter, please contact us at 903-323-1238.
East Texas Professional Credit Union (ETPCU) was notified of a text scam targeting debit card users. In this scam, scammers obtain a list of debit card numbers and names through criminal actions. The scam starts when the criminals attempt a fraudulent transaction using the stolen debit card. The cardholder then receives a legitimate text attempting to validate the fraudulent debit card transaction. After the cardholder confirms the transaction is fraudulent, the criminal quickly calls from 903.704.9062 and claims to represent the ETPCU Fraud Department in an attempt to obtain personally identifiable information. The caller has a heavy foreign accent. These texts and calls ARE NOT from ETPCU. We will NEVER text you and then quickly call to verify your debit card information.
Here are some important tips to protect yourself from fraud:
• Our ETPCU staff may ask you for your social security number or member number to verify your identity over the phone when you call us, but we will never ask for these when we call you.
• Do not respond to unsolicited requests (of any kind) for personally identifiable information including your social security number, PIN, account number, driver license number, or passwords.
• Be wary of unsolicited calls regarding fraudulent activity on your account. Criminals can use phone numbers which appear to come from a legitimate financial institution. If a call or text is received regarding possible fraud or unauthorized transfers, do not respond directly.
• If you believe a phone call could be a phishing scam, hang up immediately and verify that the person works for the company they claim to work for by calling them back through an official phone number. For ETPCU, you may call us at 903-323-0230 or 800-256-5009.
If you receive a call of this nature, please DO NOT RESPOND and hang up immediately. If you have already provided the requested information, please contact a Member Service Representative at 903-323-1238 in order to have your card blocked immediately. You may also utilize the Card Controls tab in the free Mobile App to turn off access to the card. In addition, please watch your account closely via Online Banking or our free Mobile App for any unauthorized debit card activity.
If you have any other questions or concerns regarding this matter, please contact us at 903-323-1238.
MASTERCARD SECURECODE® SCAM
Scammers target debit card users and trick victims into providing a Mastercard SecureCode® to provide an additional layer of security to debit card purchases. They then utilize this service to deplete the victim’s account funds.
In this scam, scammers obtain a list of debit card numbers and names through criminal actions. They then spoof a financial institution’s phone number.
The scam starts when the criminals attempt a fraudulent transaction using the stolen debit card and the transaction is denied.
The criminals then call the victim from a number which appears to match the financial institution's legitimate support number, and claim to represent the institution's fraud department. Once the criminal establishes credibility, they encourage the cardholder to register for Mastercard SecureCode® or an alternate secure service option in order to protect their future debit card purchases.
The scammer then runs the fraudulent transaction again and notifies the cardholder they will receive a code via text message that must be entered to complete registration. When the code is received, the cardholder provides the code to the scammer who then enters it online and the transaction is approved.
The scammer tells the cardholder that the code was unsuccessful, and an additional code will be sent. The scammer then runs an additional fraudulent transaction and asks the cardholder for the new code. The scammer continues this process until the cardholder catches on, the cardholder’s funds are depleted, or the daily limit is reached.
- Be wary of unsolicited calls regarding fraudulent activity on your account. Criminals can use email addresses and phone numbers which appear to come from a legitimate financial institution. If a call or text is received regarding possible fraud or unauthorized transfers, do not respond directly.
- Do not respond to unsolicited requests (of any kind) for personally identifiable information including your social security number, PIN, account number, driver license number, passwords or verification codes.
- If you believe a phone call could be a phishing scam, hang up immediately and verify that the person works for the company they claim to work for by calling them back through an official phone number. For ETPCU, you may call us at 903-323-0230 or 800-256-5009.
If you receive a call of this nature, please DO NOT RESPOND and hang up immediately. If you have already provided the requested information, please contact a Member Service Representative at 903-323-1238 in order to have your card blocked immediately. You may also utilize the Card Controls tab in the free Mobile App to turn off access to the card. In addition, please watch your account closely via Online Banking or our free Mobile App for any unauthorized debit card activity.
If you have any other questions or concerns regarding this matter, please contact us at 903-323-1238.
TEXT DEBIT CARD SCAM 2.2024
East Texas Professional Credit Union (ETPCU) was notified of a text scam targeting debit card users. Members have reported receiving a text indicating that a debit card transaction was declined, and the debit card has been temporarily blocked. Recipients of this text are asked to call a Toll-Free number in order to verify their ETPCU debit card information. These texts ARE NOT from ETPCU. We will NEVER text you and ask you to call a number to verify your debit card information.
If you receive this text, please DO NOT RESPOND and delete it immediately. If you have already called the number and provided information, please contact a Member Service Representative at 903-323-1238 in order to have your card blocked immediately. You may also utilize the Card Controls tab in the free Mobile App to turn off access to the card. In addition, please watch your account closely via Online Banking or our free Mobile App for any unauthorized debit card activity.
Here are some important tips to protect yourself from fraud:
- Our ETPCU staff may ask you for your social security number or member number to verify your identity over the phone when you call us, but we will never ask for these when we call you.
- Do not respond to unsolicited requests (of any kind) for personally identifiable information including your social security number, PIN, account number, driver license number, or passwords.
- Never reply to unsolicited emails or texts or click on the attachments or links until you verify the request is legitimate.
- If you believe an email could be a phishing scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.FTC.gov (opens in a new window) and forward it to us at support@etpcu.org (opens in a new window) so we can review it, then, you can delete it.
- If you believe a phone call could be a phishing scam, hang up immediately and verify that the person works for the company they claim to work for by calling them back through an official phone number. For ETPCU, you may call us at 903-323-0230 or 800-256-5009.
- If anyone asks you to confirm, verify or update your account, credit card or billing information it could be fraudulent.
Should you have any other questions or concerns regarding this matter, please contact us at 903-323-1238.
East Texas Professional Credit Union (ETPCU) members have reported receiving a text alerting them that a block has been placed on their debit card. Recipients of this text are asked to call 847-874-7123 or 872-777-8015 for assistance in removing the block. Alternate phone numbers may also be included in this phone scam. When called, the number appears to be from a debit card security company that will assist with unblocking the card.
These texts ARE NOT from ETPCU. The phone numbers contained in the text ARE NOT associated with ETPCU and DO NOT belong to our organization. We will NEVER text you and ask you to call a number in order to remove a debit card block.
If you receive this text alert, please DO NOT RESPOND or call the phone numbers contained in the text. Delete the text immediately. If you have already inadvertently called the number and provided your information, please contact a Member Service Representative at 903-323-1238 in order to have your card blocked immediately. You may also utilize the Card Controls tab in the free Mobile App to turn off access to the card. In addition, please watch your account closely via Online Banking or our free Mobile App for any unauthorized debit card activity.
ETPCU works diligently to protect our members against these types of fraudsters. Please note, we WILL NEVER text you or email you and ask you to call us in order to execute any financial transaction of any kind. In addition, we WILL NEVER ask for your debit card PIN or any password through an unsolicited call, email or social media message.
Should you have any other questions or concerns in regards to this matter, please contact us at 903-323-1238.
East Texas Professional Credit Union (ETPCU) members have reported receiving a text alerting them of suspicious debit card activity on their ETPCU account. The text is from etpcu@secure.employersgroup.com. Recipients of this text are asked to click a link in order to review the account activity. When the link in the text is clicked, this link takes you to a spoofed web address that mimics the ETPCU website in order to convince you that you are interacting with a trusted source.
These texts ARE NOT from ETPCU. The link contained in the text IS NOT an ETPCU address and DOES NOT belong to our organization. We will NEVER text you and ask you to click a link in order to review debit card activity.
If you receive this text alert, please DO NOT RESPOND and delete it immediately. If you have already clicked the link, please contact a Member Service Representative at 903-323-1238 in order to have your card blocked immediately. You may also utilize the Card Controls tab in the free Mobile App to turn off access to the card. In addition, please watch your account closely via Online Banking or our free Mobile App for any unauthorized debit card activity.
ETPCU works diligently to protect our members against these types of fraudsters. Please note, we WILL NEVER text you or email you and ask you to click a link in order to execute any financial transaction of any kind. In addition, we WILL NEVER ask for your debit card PIN or Online Banking password through an unsolicited call, email or social media message.
Here are some important tips to protect yourself from fraud:
- Our ETPCU staff may ask you for your social security number or member number to verify your identity over the phone when you call us, but we will never ask for these when we call you.
- Do not respond to unsolicited requests (of any kind) for personally identifiable information including your social security number, PIN, account number, driver license number, or passwords.
- Never reply to unsolicited emails or click on the email's attachments or links until you verify the request is legitimate.
- If you believe an email could be a phishing scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.FTC.gov (opens in a new window) and forward it to us at support@etpcu.org (opens in a new window) so we can review it, then, you can delete it.
- If you believe a phone call could be a phishing scam, hang up immediately and verify that the person works for the company they claim to work for by calling them back through an official phone number. For ETPCU, you may call us at 903-323-0230 or 800-256-5009.
- If anyone asks you to confirm, verify or update your account, credit card or billing information it could be fraudulent.
East Texas Professional Credit Union (ETPCU) members have reported receiving an email alert instructing them to click on a link from etpcu@secure.employergroup.com. This IS NOT an ETPCU address in the link and DOES NOT belong to our organization. When clicked, this link takes you to a spoofed web address that mimics the ETPCU website in order to convince you that you are interacting with a trusted source.
If you receive this email alert, please DO NOT RESPOND and delete it immediately. If you have already clicked the link, please contact a Member Service Representative at 903-323-1238 immediately.
ETPCU works diligently to protect our members against these types of fraudsters. Please note, we WILL NEVER email you and ask you to click a link in order to execute any financial transaction of any kind. In addition, we WILL NEVER ask for your debit card PIN or Online Banking password through an unsolicited call, email or social media message.
Here are some important tips to protect yourself from fraud:
- Our ETPCU staff may ask you for your social security number or member number to verify your identity over the phone when you call us, but we will never ask for these when we call you.
- Do not respond to unsolicited requests (of any kind) for personally identifiable information including your social security number, PIN, account number, driver license number, or passwords.
- Never reply to unsolicited emails or click on the email's attachments or links until you verify the request is legitimate.
- If you believe an email could be a phishing scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.FTC.gov (opens in a new window) and forward it to us at support@etpcu.org (opens in a new window) so we can review it, then, you can delete it.
- If you believe a phone call could be a phishing scam, hang up immediately and verify that the person works for the company they claim to work for by calling them back through an official phone number. For ETPCU, you may call us at 903-323-0230 or 800-256-5009.
- If anyone asks you to confirm, verify or update your account, credit card or billing information it could be fraudulent.
Should you have any other questions or concerns regarding this matter, please contact us at 903-323-1238.
East Texas Professional Credit Union (ETPCU) was notified of a phone scam targeting debit card users. Members have reported receiving a phone call asking for debit card information. The caller claims to be from East Texas Professional Credit Union, and the phone number is spoofed and appears to be from the Credit Union. These calls ARE NOT from ETPCU. We will NEVER call you and request your full debit card number, PIN or any other private information.
If you receive this call, please hang up immediately and do not divulge any information to the caller. If you have already inadvertently provided your information, please contact a Member Service Representative at 903-323-1238 in order to have your card blocked immediately. In addition, please watch your account closely via Online Banking or our free Mobile App for any unauthorized debit card activity.
Should you have any other questions or concerns in regards to this matter, please contact us at 903-323-1238.
